Waiting on Wednesday - Da Vinci's Tiger

Young, beautiful, and
witty, Ginevra de’ Benci longs to take part in the artistic ferment of
Renaissance Florence. But as the daughter of a wealthy family in a
society dictated by men, she is trapped in an arranged marriage,
expected to limit her creativity to domestic duties. Her poetry reveals
her deepest feelings, and she aches to share her work, to meet painters
and sculptors mentored by the famed Lorenzo de Medici, and to find love.

When
the charismatic Venetian ambassador, Bernardo Bembo, arrives in
Florence, he introduces Ginevra to a dazzling circle of patrons,
artists, and philosophers—a world of thought and conversation she has
yearned for. She is instantly attracted to the handsome newcomer, who
admires her mind as well as her beauty. Yet Ginevra remains conflicted
about his attentions. Choosing her as his Platonic muse, Bembo
commissions a portrait by a young Leonardo da Vinci. Posing for the
brilliant painter inspires an intimate connection between them—one
Ginevra can only begin to understand. In a rich and enthralling world of
exquisite art, elaborate feasts, and exhilarating jousts, she faces
many temptations to discover her voice, artistic companionship, and a
love that defies categorization. In the end, she and Leonardo are caught
up in a dangerous and deadly battle between powerful families.